Multi-barrel hair styling appliance and methods for styling hair using a multi-barrel hair styling appliance

ABSTRACT

A hair styling appliance includes a handle, a first barrel extending from the handle, a second barrel extending from the handle, the first barrel and the second barrel being disposed in a first plane and being non-moveable with respect to one another, and a third barrel extending from the handle, the third barrel being disposed in a second plane spaced above the first plane. The third barrel is hingedly connected to the handle and moveable between a closed position and an open position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 63/221,101, filed on Jul. 13, 2021, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to hair styling devices and,more particularly, to a multi-barrel hair styling appliance configuredfor use with a plurality of different hair styling methods for impartingdifferent hair styles or effects in a user's hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of hair styling and hair curling devices are known, many ofwhich are based on the principle of coiling strands of hair around aheating unit. Heated styling irons (e.g., hair styling irons) are usedto form hair to a wide variety of styles, such as curling hair to imparta curl that does not naturally occur or straightening hair to remove akink or curl. For example, a circular or semicircular-shaped curl can becreated by wrapping hair around the outer surface of a heatedcylindrically shaped hair styling iron tip.

Conventional curling irons include a cylindrical curling mandrel thatmay or may not have a clamping member that fits about a portion of themandrel. During use, the curling mandrel can be heated and a strand ofhair is clamped against the mandrel by the clamping member. Hair can becurled by rotating the mandrel to cause the clamped hair to be wrappedaround the mandrel. Heat applied to the mandrel can alter the texture ofthe hair so as to curl it. After a predetermined amount of time, theclamping member is moved away from the mandrel, and the curled hair isunwound.

Other curling irons utilize multiple barrels arranged in a row, andaround which hair can be wrapped for imparting a series of waves orcurls in a user's hair. These appliances, however, are still limited inthe variety of different effects that can be created, necessitating thata consumer purchase a variety of different devices if it is desired toproduce a whole suite of styling effects.

Accordingly, while existing curling irons are generally suitable forwhat is regarded as ordinary performance, there is room for improvementin terms of overall functionality and performance. In particular, thereis a need for a multi-barrel hair styling appliance configured for usewith a plurality of different hair styling methods for impartingdifferent hair styles or effects in a user's hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair stylingappliance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multiplebarrel hair styling appliance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multiplebarrel hair styling appliance that is configured for use with aplurality of different hair styling methods.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multiplebarrel hair styling appliance that can impart a plurality of differenteffects in a user's hair including a rolling wave, s-wave, zigzag curl,outward flip, oval crimp, crimp curl, inward flip (or straight curve),and/or straighten.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide variousmethods of styling, or imparting effects to, a user's hair using amultiple barrel hair styling appliance.

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a hair stylingappliance includes a handle, a first barrel extending from the handle, asecond barrel extending from the handle, the first barrel and the secondbarrel being disposed in a first plane and being non-moveable withrespect to one another, and a third barrel extending from the handle,the third barrel being disposed in a second plane spaced above the firstplane. The third barrel is hingedly connected to the handle and moveablebetween a closed position and an open position.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method ofstyling hair is provided. The method includes the steps of moving athird barrel of a hair styling appliance away from a first barrel and asecond barrel to define receiving space therebetween, inserting a strandof hair into the receiving space, and moving the third barrel towardsthe first barrel and the second barrel to clamp the strand of hairwithin the receiving space.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a hairstyling appliance is provided. The hair styling appliance includes ahandle and a plurality of mandrels connected to the handle, including atleast a first mandrel and a second mandrel. The first mandrel ismoveable with respect to the second mandrel while the second mandrelremains static with respect to the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from reading thefollowing description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to theattached drawings, wherein below:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair styling appliance according to anembodiment of the present invention, showing a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 2 ,showing a closed position.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1 ,showing an open position.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1 ,showing a closed position.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1 ,showing a closed position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1 ,showing an open position.

FIG. 7 is a top, perspective view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8 is an end, perspective view of the hair appliance of FIG. 1 .

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 toimpart a rolling wave to a section of a user's hair.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1to impart a S-wave to a section of a user's hair.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1to straighten a section of a user's hair.

FIG. 17 illustrates use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 toimpart an inward flip to a section of a user's hair.

FIG. 18 illustrates use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 toimpart a triangle crimp curl to a section of a user's hair.

FIGS. 19-21 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 toimpart a zigzag curl to a section of a user's hair.

FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1to impart an inward flip to a section of a user's hair.

FIGS. 24-26 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance of FIG. 1 toimpart an oval crimp curl to a section of a user's hair.

FIG. 27 is a simplified representation of a hair styling applianceaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a simplified representation of a hair styling applianceaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1-8 , a hair styling appliance 10 (also referredto herein as hair styling iron or curling iron 10) according to anembodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The hair stylingappliance 10 includes a handle 12 and a plurality of elongate mandrelsor barrels extending from the handle 12. As used herein, “mandrel” or“barrel” means an elongate member about which strands of hair may bewrapped, and are not intended to confer any specific cross-sectionalshape. In an embodiment, there are three barrels 14, 16, 18 that extendfrom the handle 12, although more or fewer than three barrels may beutilized. Moreover, while FIGS. 1-8 illustrate the barrels 14, 16, 18 asbeing cylindrical in shape, barrels of almost any other shape includingfor example, conical/tapered, stepped, wave, spiral, and the like, maybe employed, without departing from the broader aspects of theinvention.

As best shown in FIG. 8 , the barrels 14, 16, 18 are arranged in atriangular configuration when viewed from a distal end of the appliance10 (such that imaginary lines connecting the respective tangent pointsof each barrel form a triangle). In particular, and importantly, thelower first and second barrels 14, 16 are spaced from one anotherslightly in the horizontal direction, aligned with one another in a row,and are rigidly connected to the handle 12. The third, upper barrel 18is positioned slightly above the lower barrels 14, 16 and located suchthat a centerline or axis of the third barrel 18 is spacedequidistantly, in the horizontal direction, from a centerline or axis ofeach barrel 14, 16. In particular, in an embodiment, the first andsecond barrels 14, 16 are disposed in a first plane, and the thirdbarrel 18 is disposed in a second plane that is vertically offset fromthe first plane.

As best shown in FIG. 8 , the third barrel 18 is slightly nested withina V-shaped groove formed by the outer surfaces of the first and secondbarrels 14, 16 (such that a horizontal line connecting the uppermosttangent points of the first and second barrels 14, 16 will intersect thethird barrel 18). In an embodiment, a horizontal midline of the thirdbarrel is located vertically spaced from the imaginary horizontal lineconnecting the upper tangent points of the first and second barrels 14,16). That is, the third barrel 18, in the closed position is not alignedin a row with the first and second barrels 14, 16, but rather is spacedabove the first and second barrels in the vertical direction.

In contrast to the first and second barrels 14, 16, the third barrel 18is pivotally connected to the handle 12 and includes an actuator arm 20that can be depressed to move the third barrel 18 between a closedposition, shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 , where the barrels 14, 16, 18are parallel to one another, and an open position, shown in FIGS. 2, 4,6 , where the third barrel 18 is angled with respect to the first andsecond barrels 14, 16 so that hair can be inserted into a receivingspace 19 formed between the third barrel 18, and the first and secondbarrels 14, 16. In an embodiment, the third barrel is 18 spring biasedsuch that a default position of the third barrel 18 is in the closedposition. In use, a user may depress the actuator arm 20 to move thethird barrel 18 to the open position against the spring bias.Importantly, in one embodiment, when in the closed position, the thirdbarrel 18 contacts the first barrel 14 and the second barrel 16, for thepurposes discussed hereinafter. That is, when in the closed position thethird barrel 18 maintains touching contact with both the first barrel 14and the second barrel 16 throughout the substantial entirety of itslongitudinal extend due to its seated position within the V-shapedgroove formed by configuration and position of the first and secondbarrels 14, 16.

As indicated above, and with specific reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 , thetwo, spaced apart barrels 14, 16 thus form the bottom of a triangle whenviewed from the end (with each barrel 14, 16, 18 being a point in atriangle). The third barrel 18 (the apex of the triangle) is themoveable element, hinged to the handle 12. In the closed position, thetriangle remains, and the third barrel contacts with the first andsecond barrels 14, 16 when in the closed position. The first and secondbarrels 14, 16 never touch each other and are maintained in staticposition.

In an embodiment, each of the barrels 14, 16, 18 has a thermallyconductive outer surface and contains one or more embedded heatingelements configured to heat each respective barrel. For example, each ofthe barrels 14, 16, 18 is adapted to be selectively heated by a heatingmeans and controls of a conventional type (not shown). The barrels maybe made of metals, glass or ceramic, and may be coated with ceramics,porcelain, minerals or other performance-enhancing coatings, includingthose that emit ions and infrared energy. As shown in FIGS. 1-6 , thehandle 12 of the hair styling appliance may include a control interface22 having a plurality of visual indicators and user controls forcontrolling operation of the hair styling appliance 10. For example, inan embodiment, the hair styling iron 10 may include a power button forturning ON and OFF the device, a LCD or other screen providing a visualindication to a user of the temperature of the barrels, as well as oneor more buttons that are utilized to selectively increase thetemperature of the mandrel barrels.

As also shown in FIGS. 1-6 , a power supply or power cord 24 isconnected the handle 12 opposite the barrels 14, 16, 18 to provideelectrical power to the hair styling appliance 10. The power cord 24 isconfigured to engage a suitable electrical outlet (e.g., a wall outlet,etc.). However, in other embodiments, any suitable source of electricitymay be incorporated into the hair styling appliance 10, including, butnot limited to a battery or rechargeable battery. In an embodiment, thepower cord 24 is mounted to a hub that is rotatable with respect to thehousing or handle 12 to provide for better ergonomics.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-26 , the multi-barrel hair styling appliance 10of the present invention may be utilized to impart a variety ofdifferent hair styles or effects in a user's hair including, forexample, a rolling wave, a S-wave, an inward flip, an outward flip, acrimp curl, a zigzag curl, an oval crimp, and/or to straighten hair.

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance 10 to impart aso-called rolling wave to a section 50 of hair. As shown in FIG. 9 , asa first step, a user orients the hair styling appliance 10 so that thehandle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally vertically. The userthen grasps a section 50 of hair, moves the third barrel 18 to the openposition by depressing the actuator arm 20, and places the section 50 ofhair within the receiving space 19, as also shown in FIG. 9 . A userthen releases the actuator arm 20 to clamp the section 50 of hairbetween the movable third barrel 18 and the static first and secondbarrels 14, 16 (i.e., the barrels are in the closed position). As shownin FIG. 10 , the user then rotates or twists the hair styling appliance10 about a vertical axis 52, e.g., in the direction of arrow, A, inorder to wrap the section 50 of hair around the three barrels 14, 16, 18in a helical or spiral configuration. As shown in FIG. 11 , once thesection 50 of hair is wrapped entirely around the closed barrels, a usermoves the hair styling appliance 10 vertically downward along verticalaxis 52 to gently withdraw the appliance from the spiral section 50 ofhair (without moving the barrel 18 to the open position). Finally, asshown in FIG. 12 , upon completely withdrawing the barrels from thesection 50 of hair, a soft (loose), rolling wave 54 is imparted to thesection 50 of hair.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance 10 toimpart a S-wave to a section 50 of hair. As shown in FIG. 13 , as afirst step, a user orients the hair styling appliance 10 so that thehandle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally horizontally and thethird barrel 18 is positioned above the first and second barrels 14, 16.A user then grasps a section 50 of hair, moves the third barrel 18 tothe open position by depressing the actuator arm 20, and places thesection 50 of hair within the receiving space 19. The user then releasesthe actuator arm 20 to clamp the section 50 of hair between the movablethird barrel 18 and the static first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e.,the closed position). With reference to FIG. 14 , the user then rotatesthe hair styling appliance 10 and barrels thereof in alternatingdirections (e.g., in the direction of arrow, B, then in the oppositedirection, in the direction of arrow, C) while simultaneously, orintermittently or alternatingly, sliding the barrels 14, 16, 18 alongthe section 50 of hair towards the end thereof. In an embodiment, eachalternating rotation may be between about 90 degrees and about 270degrees and, preferably, about 180 degrees. This method imparts a waveto the entire section 50 of hair (without any helical or spiraltwisting).

Turning now to FIGS. 15 and 16 , the hair styling appliance 10 is shownas utilized to straighten a section 50 of hair. Similar to the method ofFIGS. 13 and 14 , a user first orients the hair styling appliance 10 sothat the handle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally horizontallyand the third barrel 18 is positioned above the first and second barrels14, 16. The user then grasps a section 50 of hair, moves the thirdbarrel 18 to the open position by depressing the actuator arm 20, andplaces the section 50 of hair within the receiving space 19. The userthen releases the actuator arm 20 to clamp the section 50 of hairbetween the movable third barrel 18 and the static first and secondbarrels 14, 16 (i.e., the closed position). Lastly, the user slides thebarrels 14, 16, 18 along the section 50 of hair towards the end thereof,as shown in FIG. 16 , without rotating the appliance, therebystraightening the section (i.e., producing a flat section of hair). Asdisclosed above, importantly, the third barrel 18 contacts the first andsecond barrels 14, 16, which functions to heat the section 50 of hairand straighten the section 50 of hair as is it pulled through thecontact points between the first barrel 14 and the third barrel 18 andthe second barrel 16 and the third barrel 18. As will be appreciated,the hair styling appliance 10 is therefore capable of straightening asection of hair similar to a flat iron. As the round barrels 14, 16, 18of the appliance 10 are devoid of any sharp edges, however, the sectionof hair 50 moves much more smoothly through the clamping section of theappliance, resulting in a much straighter and flatter section of hair.

Referring to FIG. 17 , according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, the hair styling appliance 10 may be utilized to impart aninward flip to a section of a user's hair (along with straightening thesection 50 of hair). This styling method is similar to the straighteningmethod of FIGS. 15 and 16 . Namely, a user first orients the hairstyling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 and barrels 14, 16, 18 extendgenerally horizontally and the third barrel 18 is positioned above thefirst and second barrels 14, 16. The user then grasps a section 50 ofhair, moves the third barrel 18 to the open position by depressing theactuator arm 20, and places the section 50 of hair within the receivingspace 19. The user then releases the actuator arm 20 to clamp thesection 50 of hair between the movable third barrel 18 and the staticfirst and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e., the closed position). Lastly, theuser slides the barrels 14, 16, 18 along the section 50 of hair towardsthe end thereof, as shown in FIG. 17 , without rotating the appliance,thereby straightening the section (i.e., producing a flat section ofhair). As the styling appliance 10 approaches the end of the section 50of hair, the user, while the section 50 is still clamped between thethird barrel 18 and the first and second barrels 14, 16, rotates theappliance 10 (and thus the barrels thereof) inwardly, in the directionof arrow, D. This action imparts an inward flip or curl at the end ofthe straightened section 50 of hair.

FIG. 18 illustrates use of the hair styling appliance 10 to impart acrimp curl (also referred to herein as a triangle crimp curl to asection of a user's hair). As shown therein, the appliance 10 is placedin the closed position such that all three barrels extend parallel toone another, and a section 50 of hair is wrapped around all threebarrels 14, 16, 18 in a helical or spiral manner. Each successive wrapof the section 50 of hair thus includes three linear portions extendingbetween the respective tangent points formed by each barrel 14, 16, 18,with a curve at each apex that corresponds to the radius of each barrel(where the hair contacts and barrels). The successive wraps are thenheld in place on the heated barrels for a period of time, and then theend of the section is released and the appliance 10 withdrawn, leaving aplurality of crimp curls along the section 50 of hair. In an embodiment,the “tightness” of each crimp curl is determined by the diameter of thebarrels of the appliance, such that using smaller diameter barrels willform tighter crimp curls, while using larger diameter barrels will formlooser crimp curls.

FIGS. 19-21 illustrate use of the hair styling appliance 10 to impart azigzag curl in a section 50 of hair. As shown in FIG. 19 , a user firstorients the hair styling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 and barrels14, 16, 18 extend generally horizontally and the third barrel 18 ispositioned below the first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e., theappliance 10 inverted so that the third barrel 18 is positioned on thebottom). The actuator arm 20 is then depressed to move the third barrel18 to the open position. As shown therein, the section 50 of hair isthen wrapped around only the third barrel 18 in a helical or spiralmanner (while maintaining pressure on the actuator arm 20 to maintainthe appliance 10 in the open position). As shown in FIG. 20 , once thesection 50 of hair is wrapped around the third barrel 18, the actuatorarm 20 is released, which moves the third barrel 18 into the closedposition and clamps the wound section 50 of hair against the first andsecond barrels 14, 16. In an embodiment, the actuator arm 20 can beperiodically depressed to move the third barrel 18 between the closedposition and the open position while the section of hair 50 is heated bythe third barrel 18. Alternatively, the appliance 10 may be maintainedin the closed position throughout the heating period. Finally, as shownin FIG. 21 , at the end of the proceed, the hair styling appliance isoriented so that the barrels 14, 16, 18 point generally downward, theactuator arm 20 is depressed to move the appliance 10 to the openposition, and the appliance is withdrawn from the section 50 of hair,leaving tight, spiral-like curls 56 in the section 50 of hair.

Turning now to FIGS. 22 and 23 , the hair styling appliance 10 may beutilized to impart an outward flip to a section 50 of a user's hair(along with straightening the section 50 of hair). This styling methodis similar to the inward flip method of FIG. 17 , however, rather thanimparting an inward curl at the end of the section of hair, and outwardcurl is formed. In particular, using the outward flip method, a userfirst orients the hair styling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 andbarrels 14, 16, 18 extend generally horizontally and the third barrel 18is positioned below the first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e., theappliance 10 is inverted so that the third barrel 18 is on the bottom).The user then grasps a section 50 of hair, moves the third barrel 18 tothe open position by depressing the actuator arm 20, and places thesection 50 of hair within the receiving space 19. The user then releasesthe actuator arm 20 to clamp the section 50 of hair between the movablethird barrel 18 and the static first and second barrels 14, 16 (i.e.,the closed position). The user then slides the barrels 14, 16, 18 alongthe section 50 of hair towards the end thereof, without rotating theappliance 10, thereby straightening the section 50 (i.e., producing aflat section of hair). As the styling appliance 10 approaches the end ofthe section 50 of hair, the user, while the section 50 is still clampedbetween the third barrel 18 and the first and second barrels 14, 16,rotates the appliance 10 (and thus the barrels thereof) outwardly, inthe direction of arrow, E. This action imparts an outward flip or curlat the end of the straightened section 50 of hair.

Turning now to FIGS. 24-26 , use of the appliance 10 to impart an ovalcrimp curl is shown. With reference to FIG. 24 , a user first orientsthe hair styling appliance 10 so that the handle 12 and barrels 14, 16,18 extend generally horizontally and the third barrel 18 is positionedabove the first and second barrels 14, 16. The user then grasps asection 50 of hair, moves the third barrel 18 to the open position bydepressing the actuator arm 20, and places the section 50 of hair withinthe receiving space 19. As shown in FIG. 25 , the section 50 of hair isthen wrapped around the static first and second barrels 14, 16, but notthe third barrel, while maintaining pressure on the actuator arm 20 tomaintain the appliance 10 in the open position. The appliance 10 is thenheld in the open position for a desired duration, and then the end ofthe section of hair is released and the appliance 10 withdrawn, therebyimparting a plurality of somewhat loose curls 58 to the section 50 ofhair, as shown in FIG. 26 .

While FIGS. 1-26 illustrate three barrels, with the first and secondbarrels 14, 16 being static and the third barrel 18 forming the apex ofa triangle when viewed from the end and being moveable between and openand closed position, the present invention is not intended to be solimited in this regard. In particular, in other embodiments, amulti-function hair styling appliance may have three barrels (where twoof the barrels are moveable), four barrels (where one of the barrels ismoveable and the other are static), four barrels (where two of thebarrels are moveable and two of the barrels are static), or two barrels(where one of the barrels is moveable and the other barrel is static).For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-26 , the first and secondbarrels 14, 16 may be moveable while the third barrel 18 is static.Alternatively, the first or second barrel 14, 16, and the third barrel18 may be moveable, while the remaining barrel remains static.

As indicated above, and with reference to FIG. 27 , a hair appliance 100having a first barrel 110, a second barrel 112, a third barrel 114 and afourth barrel 116 is shown. The hair appliance 100 is generally similarto hair appliance 10 in configuration and operation, although it hasfour barrels instead of three. In an embodiment, the barrel 110 andbarrel 114 are arranged in a first plane, and the barrel 112 and barrel116 are arranged in a second plane vertically spaced from the firstplane. Alternatively, barrels 110, 116 may be arranged in a first plane,while barrels 112, 114 are arranged in a second plane spaced from thefirst plane. In an embodiment, one of the barrels 110, 112, 114, 116 ismoveable (between open and closed positions) while the remainder of thebarrels are fixedly connected to the handle 120 and remain static. Inanother embodiment, two of the barrels (e.g., barrel 110 and 112, orbarrel 110 and 114, or barrel 110 and 116, are moveable, while the otherbarrels remain static). In embodiments, the moveable barrels may bemoveable independently of one another or moveable collectively.

FIG. 28 illustrates a two barrel hair styling appliance 130 according toan embodiment of the present invention. The hair appliance 130 isgenerally similar to hair appliance 10 in configuration and operation,although it has two barrels instead of three. As shown therein, theappliance has a first barrel 132 and a second barrel 134 connected to ahandle 136. As alluded to above, one of the first barrel 132 and secondbarrel 134 is moveable (to open and closed positions) with respect tothe other barrel, while the other barrel remains static), to clamp orretain a strand of hair therebetween.

The hair styling appliances of the present invention therefore allow fora variety of different hair styling methods to be carried out using suchappliance, each of which produces a slightly different effect in auser's hair. The present invention therefore provides a multi-functionhair styling appliance that is much more diverse than existing devices.In particular, while existing device may be capable of being used toimpart one or two different styles in a user's hair, typically, numerousdifferent devices of very different design are needed to achieve thevarious styling effects produced by the multi-barrel, multi-functionhair styling appliances of the present invention.

Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to thedetailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill inthe art that various changes may be made and equivalents may besubstituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of theinvention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the invention withoutdeparting from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intendedthat the invention not be limited to the particular embodimentsdisclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair styling appliance, comprising: a handle; afirst barrel extending from the handle; a second barrel extending fromthe handle, the first barrel and the second barrel being disposed in afirst plane, the first barrel and the second barrel being non-moveablewith respect to one another; and a third barrel extending from thehandle, the third barrel being disposed in a second plane spaced abovethe first plane; wherein the third barrel is hingedly connected to thehandle and moveable between a closed position and an open position. 2.The hair styling appliance of claim 1, further comprising: an actuatoroperatively connected to the third barrel and being operable toselectively move the third barrel between the closed position and theopen position; wherein in the closed position, the third barrel isparallel with the first barrel and the second barrel; and wherein in theopen position, the third barrel is angled with respect to the firstbarrel and the second barrel.
 3. The hair styling appliance of claim 1,wherein: the third barrel is spring biased to the closed position. 4.The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein: the third barrel is atleast partially nested in a groove defined by the first barrel and thesecond barrel.
 5. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein: ahorizontal midline of the third barrel is located vertically spaced froman imaginary horizontal line connecting upper tangent points of thefirst barrel and the second barrels.
 6. The hair styling appliance ofclaim 1, wherein: in the closed position, the third barrel contacts thefirst barrel and the second barrel.
 7. The hair styling appliance ofclaim 1, wherein: in the closed position, the third barrel does notcontact the first barrel and the second barrel.
 8. The hair stylingappliance of claim 1, wherein: the first barrel, the second barrel, andthe third barrel are arranged in a triangular configuration.
 9. A methodof styling hair, comprising the steps of: moving a third barrel of ahair styling appliance away from a first barrel and a second barrel todefine receiving space therebetween; inserting a strand of hair into thereceiving space; and moving the third barrel towards the first barreland the second barrel to clamp the strand of hair within the receivingspace.
 10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the stepof: rotating the hair styling appliance to wrap the strand of hairaround the first barrel, the second barrel and the third barrel.
 11. Themethod according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: withdrawingthe hair styling appliance in an axial direction to release the strandof hair to impart a rolling wave to the strand of hair.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: rotating the hairstyling appliance in a first direction; moving the hair stylingappliance along the strand of hair; and rotating the hair stylingappliance in a second direction to impart a wave to the strand of hair.13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of:sliding the hair styling appliance along the strand of hair tostraighten the strand of hair.
 14. The method according to claim 13,further comprising the step of: adjacent to a free end of the strand ofhair, rotating the hair styling appliance to impart a curl to the freeend of the strand of hair.
 15. The method according to claim 9, furthercomprising the step of: prior to moving the third barrel towards thefirst barrel and the second barrel to clamp the strand of hair withinthe receiving space, wrapping the strand of hair around the third barrelin a helical or spiral manner.
 16. The method according to claim 9,further comprising the step of: prior to moving the third barrel towardsthe first barrel and the second barrel to clamp the strand of hairwithin the receiving space, wrapping the strand of hair around the firstbarrel and the second barrel.
 17. A hair styling appliance, comprising:a handle; and a plurality of mandrels connected to the handle, includingat least a first mandrel and a second mandrel; wherein the first mandrelis moveable with respect to the second mandrel while the second mandrelremains static with respect to the handle.
 18. The hair stylingappliance of claim 17, wherein: the plurality of mandrels include athird mandrel; wherein the third mandrel is moveable with respect to thesecond mandrel.
 19. The hair styling appliance of claim 18, wherein: thefirst mandrel and the third mandrel are collectively moveable withrespect to the second mandrel.
 20. The hair styling appliance of claim18, wherein: the first mandrel and the third mandrel are moveableindependently of one another.
 21. The hair styling appliance of claim17, wherein: the plurality of mandrels include a third mandrel and afourth mandrel.
 22. The hair styling appliance of claim 21, wherein: thesecond mandrel, the third mandrel and the fourth mandrel are fixedlyconnected to the handle such that the first mandrel is moveable withrespect to the second mandrel, the third mandrel and the fourth mandrel.23. The hair styling appliance of claim 21, wherein: the second mandreland the fourth mandrel are fixedly connected to the handle; and whereinthe first mandrel and the third mandrel are moveable with respect to thesecond mandrel and the fourth mandrel.
 24. The hair styling appliance ofclaim 23, wherein: the first mandrel and the third mandrel arecollectively moveable with respect to the second mandrel and the fourthmandrel.
 25. The hair styling appliance of claim 23, wherein: the firstmandrel and the third mandrel are moveable independently of one another.